Shuttle



Feb. 17, 1948. A, GELPKE 2,436,356

SHUTTLE Filed April 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ewen/07" jaw/v K. A.GELPKE SHUTTLE Feb. 17, 1948.

Filed April 25 1944 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Feb. 17 1948 UNITED STATESTENT, OFFICE SHUTTLE corporation of Delaware Application April 25, 1944,Serial No. 532,590

The invention relates to loom shuttles in general, and more particularlyto shuttles for weftreplenishing looms in which the supply of filling inthe shuttle is replenished automatically by mechanical means forming apart of the loom.

. A leading object of the invention is to reduce the Weight of theshuttle while increasing or at least maintaining its capacity, itsuseful life, its

1 Claim. (Cl, 139196) convenience, and utility, and. withoutsubstantially increasing its cost. Tests have indicated that in loomsrunning at customary speeds using conventional wooden shuttles adecrease of one ounce in shuttle weight results in a corresponding drivethe loom, in addition to the economies realized through lightening theload and the wear and tear on the pickers, binders, and other partssharing in the picking and checking of the shuttle, and through thereduction of shock and vibration in the loom.

Refinements in the conventional wooden shuttle have been carried tothepoint where no further reduction in weight without corresponding loss ofits essential qualities have been possible in working with thismaterial, and metal shuttles as hitherto proposed have either beenheavier than their wooden counterparts or have possessed otherdrawbackswhich have prevented their entering into common use in flyshuttle cloth looms.

To attain its leading object, the invention provides a shuttle bodymadewholly from metal or metallic alloys of theclass technically known aslight metals, such as magnesiuimmagnesium alloys, Duralumin, and thelike, and also designed to be fabricated by pressure die casting orforging to cut the complexity and cost of manufacture. The improvedshuttle weighs from one to two or more ounces less imamwooden'counterpart.

saving of at least 1 in the power required to Along with its lightnessand the s mplification of the manufacturing steps, the superior physicalcharacteristics of appropriate metals or alioysof this class permit theshaping of the side walls of the shuttle in thin sections, thinner thanpracticable with wood, thus enabling an increase in the internaldimensions of the bobbin chamber so as to accommodate a bobbin wound togreater di ameter and thus carrying more yarn for the same outsidedimensions of the shuttle. Being made of metal, the shuttle cannot warp,and is devoid oi any tendency to roughen, splinter, or split in use,

thus obviating entirely the commonest forms of .shuttle failure whichinecessarily terminate the useful life of a wooden shuttle; even ifdeformed by an accident the improvedv shuttle is capable of beingbrought back into shape for further use, and it is made in two halveseach comprising one entire side of the shuttleso thatin the event ofextreme wear or injury beyond repair an entire new side, madeinterchangeable with the worn half without need for machining orfitting, can be quickly and easily installed with retention of theunworn or undamaged half. Further, the discarded parts or shuttles havean important salvage value, by contrast with wooden shuttles, thusadditionally reducing the cost to the mill.

-For further economy, the shuttle is provided with self-threadingdevices or parts which are mainly or wholly integral with the materialof the shuttle, thus saving a large part of the cost of making andfitting the usual self-threading attachment, as well as eliminating thepossibility of this attachment working loose in use.

both the metaldents of the reed and the metal of the shuttle whichhasrendered prior types of metal shuttles impracticable. The outwardsurfaces of the restof the shuttleare subjected to a case hardeningtreatment to provide them with a wear-resisting surface. In addition,the entire surface of, the shuttle is provided with a color, coating orsurface treatment producing a higher degree of heat radiation anddissipation than that of the normal untreated component metal, so thatthe very material degree of heat generated by the shuttle in workingwill not be allowed to make the shuttle too hot to be handled by theloom attendant whenever necessary and without delay. Other objects ofthe invention, and the manner of their attainment, are set forthhereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. VFig. 3 is a view in horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig, 2. l

Fig. 4 is a partly sectional elevation on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showingthe rear half of the shuttle, the mounting of the bobbin jaws and guide,and the arrangement of the self-threading devices.

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section On line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig, 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 'l is a side elevation of the combined horn and thread hook whenthis member is formed separately from the parts of the shuttle.

Fig. 8 is a view of the same when viewed from the right-hand side ofFig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section similar toFig. 6 but showing only one-half theshuttle width, illustrating the ca e-hardened surfacing of the shuttle.

The improved shuttle is of conventional outside shape, dimensions, andcontour, and comprises two main parts fabricated by pressure die castingor forging from any suitable moldable or castable metals or metallicalloys of specific gravity ranging from 1.70 to 1.90, the front side orhalf I which has the usual feeler slot .3 and longitudinal yarn groove5, preferably cast or molded therein as this side is formed, and a rearside or half I which is formed with a straight surface throughout itsentire length except adjacent thetapered end-portions 9. 'These endportions of both halves are given the 'usual or any preferred taper inthe process of molding, but the rear'hali l is prolonged substantiallybeyond the length of the front half, and this prolongation II at eachend of the rear half is given a conical shape and made to overlap andfit closely against aweb l3 formed on "each end .of 'front wall Theconical lprojections H are shaped to continue accurately theconformation of "the tapered end portions '9 of the shuttle, and thusform integral shuttle points for engagement by the loom pickers.Horizontal webs l5 extend inwardly at both ends ofboth. halves, atthebottom of the shuttlaand at H .at the top of the shuttle at the endthereof that is away from the selfthreading devices, to meet in avertical plane extending axially of the shuttle; these meeting edges 19form the bearing surfaces between the two halves when bolted togetherbyretaining'bolts 2| put through countersunk holes formed in bosses 23,25, provided .on the inside of each half near each end thereof, andthrough countersunk steel nuts 22. Arounded lateral extension of theterminal web |3 at each end o'fthe from half fits accurately within thehollow of the rear 'half adjacent the base .of each conical projection Hto aid in preventing "relative vertical 'movement of the two halves. Byreason of the close fit of the terminal web l3 of the front half againstthe base of projection this part is adequately supported against thestress of the impact of the picker. The bottom surfaces of the webs atthe bottom of the shuttle are arched upward and inward toward theiredges I!) to give clearance .of these areas from the shuttle race. I

The bosses 23 at the end of-the shuttle remote from the delivery eye areelongated lengthwise and extend inward to grip tightly the shank 21 ofthe bobbin jaws 29, the latter being of conventional design and of usualsteel construction, a. spacer 3i being inserted between the two sides ofthe shank .21 and the bolt 2! passing through such :spacer as it goesthrough holes provided in theshank so that the span of the jaws will notbe altered when this bolt is drawn up tight. A bobbin-guide 33 of moreor less standard shape and function is combined with the :bobbin jaws,its horizontal arms 35 extending respectively above and below the shank21 and being permanently attached thereto by a rivet 31 put throughaligned holes in these arms and fitting tightly within the space leftbetween spacer 3| and the bend at the end of the shank 21.

To hold the bobbin jaws 29 against movement up and down about the bolt2| as a center of gyration, the webs l5, Fig. 6, at the bottom of thebobbin are extended lengthwise to form shelves engaging and supportingthe bobbin jaws throughout the entire length of their curved shouldersand partway along the straight portions of their jaws, with otherprojections 39 formed on the inside wall of each half above the bobbinjaws to engage and hold down the bobbin jaws adjacent the curve of theshoulders. An appropriate rabbet is provided in each shelf Hi V toreceive and support the lower arm of the bobbin guide. Thus held, thebobbin jaws are much more rigidly maintained against vertical gyrationthan 'in the conventional wooden shutt e, with consequent greatlyreduced likelihood of the occurrence 'of a bobbin smash as a result ofsending an upwardly protruding bobbin through the shed. The metallicdeck over the upper arm of the bobbin guide created by the upper webs Hat this end of the shuttle effectively eliminates all chance of theguideor its conventional retaining screw as used in wooden shuttles workingloose to extend upward above the shuttle so that it can catch and breakthe warps.

As shown in the transverse section of Fig. 6, theupper and lower edgesof the walls are thickened and extended inward slightly to form ribs orflanges 4| which give the interior surfaces of these walls alhollowsection imparting stifiness resisting .the'bending inward of these wallsunder the pressure of the binder or swell in the shuttle box, and thefront wall is also in certain instances given a corrugated form insection by reason of the inward curvature of this wall made toprovideadditional metal for forming the yarn groove 5 "on the exteriorof this wall. this shaping aided by the flange outlining the feeler slot3 at the inside of the front wall imparting further stiffness, By reasonof these special sectional shapes, combined with the physicalcharacteristics of the light metals used. the walls are ordinarily onlyone-half as thick, and in all cases much thinner than they can safely bemade in wood,.and hence the space within the shuttle is /8 to /2 inchwider and will take a yarn package having this amount of increaseddiameter, with corresponding lowering of dofferand battery hand andother costs to the mill. The ratio or side-wall thickness to the widthof the space between the walls defining the bobbin diameter isordinarily around 1 to 11, in contrast with the usual ratio in woodenbobbins of from 1110 4 up'to 1 to 6.

The non-metallic facing strip 43 forming the wearing surface of the'rearwall is ordinaril of uniform thickness throughout and formed withbeveled or rabbeted margins. the strip being inlaid for approximatelyhalf its thickness in a sunken area 45 formed inthe rear side of theshuttle. A slight bead 4'! of metal formed in the molding operationoutlines the sunken area, and after coating the inward surface of thestrip with cement and pressing it into the sunken area this head isrolled or pressed into overhanging relation with the rabbeted or bevelededges all the way around the strip. thus fixing the strip securely inplace. Preferably the strip extends partway of the taper at both ends ofthe shuttle, to get the ends of the strip-out of range of the reed andthe parts at the mouth of the shuttle box. However, the method ofattachment is such that the strip can be replaced in case of damage, byproper manipulation of the retaining bead 41. In certain instances thestrip is additionally secured to the rear wall-by the use of soft copperrivets as indicated by the dotted circles 49. This strip stiifens andstrengthens the rear wall of the shuttle, and enables it to be madethinner than the front wall.

The integral self-threading arrangements comprise an oblique web 5| onthe rear half of the shuttle the edge of which is straight and slantsforward from substantially at the median vertical plane of the shuttleto a point well in front of such plane, extending to the base of theprojection forming the shuttle point ll. Beneath this web-there isformed .on the rear half a shoulder 53 having a roughly semi-circularhol- .the shuttle point, the swirling of the unwinding yarn as it leavesthe bobbin tip carrying it low 55 which tapers and becomes shallowerto-' v ward the adjacent end of the shuttle, and on the front half ofthe shuttle is formed a curving beak 51 tapering inwardly and downwardlytoward the adjacent end of the shuttle and terminating in a thread-hook59 which extends to the said median plane of the shuttle, andconfronting the semi-circular hollow. Below the beak 51 there is formedonrthe front half I a generally fiat surface 6l which inclinesdownwardly in a direction away from the adjacent shuttle point,extending in spaced relation to the under side of the beak. The edge 65of this fiat surface nearest the eye 63 of the shuttle extends inwardlyat substantially right angles to the shuttle axis for a cer taindistance, and then obliquely inward in a direction toward the adjacentend of the shuttle. The under side of the beak is correspondingly shapedto parallel these adjacent parts, so that a thread slot 61 is formedbetween the beak and the fiat surface 6| which slot extends in aslanting direction down and away from the adjacent end of the shuttle,and then vertically down into the shuttle eye 63.

Onzth'e bolt 2| at this end of the shuttle is mounted a plate 69 ofhardened steel or other hard metal having a sharp-pointed horn I l'which is located centrally upon the axis of the eye, and a guide surface13 extending down to the inturned web I 5 at the shuttle bottom, aroundwhich surface the yarn reeves in making a nearly right angle turn in itscourse to the eye. The plate 69 is clamped tightly between the boss 23on the front half and the end of the much longer sleeve-like boss 25 onthe rear half and surrounding the shank of the bolt. The upper edge ofthis platelis' shaped to fit smoothly against the curving interior wallof the front half, and to be completely shielded from above by theoverhanging rim of the front wall, so that the yarn cannot get caughtbetween these latter parts. The end of the plate toward the bobbin isbent to ex-' tend trans vers'ely across the thread passage left betweenthe rearward face of the plate and the parts Yon the rear half of theshuttle, and shaped to provide a rearwardly and downwardly curving hook15, the web 11 below the hook diverting the yarn laterally to preventits wedging between the end of the sleeve 25 and the adjacent face ofthe plate. When the shuttle is made of sufficiently wear-resistingmetal, or alternatively when the guide surface 13 is formed by ahardened pin, the horn H and hook 15 are cast as integral parts of thefront half of the shuttle, and the boss 25 on the rear half extendsclear to the corresponding boss at the front half.

beneath the thread hook l5 and the end of beak 51. On the second pick,the yarn is diverted by the under surface of the beak down the slot 61and into the eye 63, and slides down the inclined surface of horn IIthat is toward the adjacent shuttle end, thereafter rising into thenotch behind the horn. During the continuance of the weaving, the yarnruns under the hook 75, over the boss or sleeve '25, through the notchand around surface 13, and out through the shuttle eye, in bothdirections of the shuttles travel.

Any suitable known method of case hardening the specific metal chosenfor the shuttle is used,

provided that it does not render the metal brittie or otherwise impairthe physical qualities needed in the shuttle. A specific form of surfacehardening found satisfactory in use is that of the Dow Chemical Co.,termed by them Dow No. 6 hardening. A case-hardened outer'skin isillustrated at 82 in Fig. 9.

The treatment of the metallic surfaces of the shuttle to radiate anddissipate heat therefrom includes a number of different techniques suchas blackening or darkening the inside and outside surfaces as indcatedat 18 in Fig. 1 by chemical coloring or tarnishing treatments, heattreatments, and application of pigmented adhesive coatings such aspaints, enamels, and lacquers, or, as an alternative, mechanicallygrooving or pitting the surfaces as indicated at 80, Fig. 2,

on a scale fine enough to extend the total radiat-' ing surface of theshuttle without roughening the shuttle exterior so that it will catchthe yarns; it also includes the use of coatings or alloys subject totarnishing upon exposure to the air alone, or to the humidfied aircommonly present in the mill, the alloy used being either the entirecomponent material of the shuttle or a surface coating applied to theshuttle parts. A preferred treatment comprises a matte black finishcreated on all surfaces, inside and out, of the shuttle by a chemicaldipping treatment which results in the blackening of all exposedsurfaces of the metal. Though this finish is superficial, only thoseparts on the bottom and sides of the shuttle which are subjected toconstant rubbing contact wear bright, leaving by far the greater part ofthe shuttles surfaces black and possessed of increased heat-radiatingpower.

While I have illustrated and described a certain form in which theinvention may be embodied, I am aware that many modications may be madetherein by any person skilled n the art, without departing from thescope of the invention as expressed in the claim. Therefore, I do notwish to be limited to the particular form shown, or to the details ofconstruction thereof, but

What I do claim is:

A shuttle for automatic weft-replenishing looms comprising two halvesrespectively forming the front and rear walls of the shuttle and eachwall cast from metal so as to have a relatively thick rim at its top andbottom edges and a relatively thinner web intervening between the runsof each wall, one of the halves being longer than '7 the other andprovided at each extremity with a conical point, and the half formingthev rear wall having a synthetic non-metallic surfacing for engagementwith the 100m reed. KARL A. (-BdilLPKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

"UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 182,150 Beatly Sept 12, 1876411,097 Elsas et a1 Sept. 17, 1889 450,554 Briggs Apr. 14, 1891 4514,232 Kobertz Feb. 6, 1894 588,935 Wood. Aug. 24,- 1897 639,441 RyonDec. 19, 1899 728,371 Cote May 19, 1903 -"747,300 Cote Dec. 15, 19031,037,523 Portner et a1 Sept. 3, 1912 1,247,601 Renzo Nov. 20, 1917OTHER REFERENCES Magnesium, a. handbook published by American Magnesium.Corp.,lNiagara Falls, N. Y. Copyright 1923.

Metal Industry (London), pages, 5-9, vol 58,

9 Jan. 3, 1941.

